Class will be held on Wednesdays from 4:30-7 pm.

Instructor: Jonathan Sachs, Director of Workforce Development, Baltimore County

Contact Kevin Fulmer, kevinf@umbc.edu if you you have any questions or are interested in signing up for the class!  

Hello everyone! 

We hope to see you there!

You've probably uploaded a PDF to your course or website dozens of times without a second thought: a syllabus, an article, a set of lecture notes. 

PDFs are everywhere in higher ed. For years they have functioned as the safe, universal choice to prevent editing a file once it’s shared; however, PDFs are often the format most likely to create barriers for students, particularly those using assistive technology. What happens when a student using a screen reader opens that file and the reading order is scrambled, or the text isn’t recognized?  

The good news: in many cases, you can share the same content in its original format - while preserving accessibility, simplifying updates, and still maintaining control over who can view or edit it. 

When sharing content, here are five considerations that don't depend on a PDF.

1. PDFs Preserve Content Exactly the Way It’s Designed

One of the biggest reasons people choose PDFs is that they preserve formatting. Fonts, spacing, images, and page layout appear exactly as intended, regardless of the device or software a student might use. For documents where visual presentation is essential - such as official forms, archival records, or publisher materials - that consistency can be valuable.

But preserving appearance isn't the same as preserving accessibility. A PDF can look perfect on screen, yet may still be difficult or impossible for a screen reader to interpret if headings, reading order, image descriptions, or searchable text are missing. 

2. Share Word Documents & PowerPoint Presentations
A well-structured accessible document, with headings, lists, alt text, and descriptive hyperlinks, is easier for every student to navigate than a scanned or exported PDF. It’s also far easier for you to update next semester. Structure is what makes a document work with a screen reader in the first place: without accurate headings, there's no way to jump between sections or understand how content is organized.

The same structural principles apply to slides: use built-in layouts instead of freeform text boxes, add alt text to images, and maintain a logical reading order so screen readers announce content in the right sequence.

Before exporting a document or presentation as a PDF, ask if students really need that fixed-layout file - or whether sharing the original document, presentation, or Blackboard content would provide the same information in a format that's easier to access, navigate, and update.

Related readings:

• 5 Tips for Accessible Word Documents

• 10 Ways to Make Your Slide Decks More Accessible 

• 5 Ways to Create "Born Accessible" Course Materials 

3. Share View-Only Files Instead of PDFs
Worried about users editing your original file? You don't need to convert to PDF to protect it.

• In Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel), use Share → Can view to send a live, view-only link instead of a flattened export. Recipients still get a fully accessible, screen-reader-friendly document — just without edit access.

• In Google Drive, set sharing permissions to Viewer so students can read but not edit or comment. Because the file stays in its native Google Docs or Slides format, it keeps its accessibility structure — no PDF export needed.

4. Let Blackboard Permissions Do the Work
Blackboard already has built-in tools for controlling access without ever touching a PDF.

• Post content as an Ultra Document or in a Content Area, and use role-based permissions to control who can view, edit, or download.

• This keeps materials in accessible, native web format while still restricting student access to editing.

5. Reconsider the Legacy of PDFs
This mindset isn't just for new content. Before you fix a PDF that's already in your course, ask the same question you'd ask about a new one: do you still need it? If the content has been replaced elsewhere, is redundant, or is simply out of date, removing it is the fastest way to improve accessibility - no reformatting required.

Sometimes a PDF really is the only option - a signed form, a publisher file, an archival document. When that happens, our 4 Strategies for Creating Accessible PDFs walks through how to remake or remediate it properly.

Visit UMBC's Digital Accessibility resource to learn more about managing PDF files. 

The program features a candid conversation with Erin Moran on leadership, career growth, workplace culture, and navigating uncertainty with confidence and purpose. There is a keynote panel with Dr. Bruce Jerrell and Dr. Valerie Shears Ashby on leadership, trust, resilience, and building workplaces where people can succeed and thrive. The Spotlight Speaker is Casper ter Kuile who will help us discover how small, intentional practices can create greater meaning, connection, and well-being in everyday life. 

Session Spotlight

• Power & Presence: The EQ Advantage
• Leading Through Change Fatigue Without Burning Out Your Team
• Beyond Self-Care: Designing Work That Supports Human Capacity
• Let's Create with Copilot!
• The Inclusive Inbox: A Practical Guide to Digitally Accessible Emails
• From Overwhelmed to Optimized: AI & Digital Tools for Everyday Higher Ed Work

Whether you're interested in leadership, AI, workplace effectiveness, accessibility, well-being, or professional growth, Professional Development Week offers practical ideas and tools you can put to use right away.

To learn more and sign up, please see the event's website.

I’m looking for a table and chair. If anyone is moving out or has these items available to give away for free, please email me at ndas2@umbc.edu

Thank you!

Are you a faculty member teaching a course and need to make materials available for your students? Did you know the library can scan, find, purchase, and link materials for you through Course Reserves? Course Reserves is available as a link on your Blackboard course. Look for “Library Reserves Home.” This link can be moved or added anywhere on your course via the Content Market.

Have you checked to see if your required course materials are available at the library? Articles, book chapters, and some ebooks and streaming media can be made available online within Blackboard (within copyright rules). Books, DVDs, and other physical materials can be held at the Check Out desk for the semester and made available to students for individual, short-term use. You may also temporarily lend us your own materials to scan or check out to students.

We strive to provide accessible materials through Course Reserves. We strongly encourage all instructors to consider accessibility when choosing course materials. Some things to consider:

• Are there born-digital versions available for your requested materials?
  • You can check OneSearch or reach out to your subject librarian for assistance.
• Are the scanned digital documents you are reserving accessible? Is there a born-digital alternative you could replace it with that’s more accessible? If not, we will do our best to remediate the file and rescan if needed.
• Can you ask the publisher for a more accessible version?
• If you’re using an ebook, how many users are allowed to simultaneously access it?

For more information, see the Library's Faculty Guide to Course Reserves. If you have any questions, please contact us at reserves-group@umbc.edu or 410-455-2234.

If you are looking for materials for personal use instead of for a course, please submit an Interlibrary Loan request or a purchase suggestion. For any questions, please contact illcm@umbc.edu.

Includes: All utilities + WiFi included in rent price

3 male graduate students currently living here

Must be enrolled at UMBC, no couples

Location:
• 5-minute drive to UMBC
• 3 minute walk UMBC shuttle stop

Room & Home Details:
• Lockable bedroom
• 3 quarter bath
• Shared kitchen, dining room, and living room (1st floor)
• Washer and dryer on site
• Designated parking spot in front of house

pictures of house and room can be found here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dXqUbPV4LDgrhRrz0_kRPIEbE1ybs0HZ?usp=drive_link

leasing term august-june, prorated for august

please email antros1@umbc.edu for more details if interested!

Looking for a quiet, affordable place to focus on school? This private bedroom in a welcoming family home might be just what you need.

💰 $700/month — everything included:

• Water, utilities & internet
• Washer/dryer access
• Shared kitchen space
• Driveway parking (optional)

📍 Perfect for UMBC students  UMBC shuttle stops right at the end of the block — no car needed to get to campus! 

🏠 About the space: Quiet residential street in Catonsville. You'll have a private bedroom and shared access to kitchen and laundry in a clean, well-kept family home. Great environment for studying and recharging.

House guidelines:

• Non-smoking home

📞 Interested? Get in touch:

• Call/text: 443-535-7077
• Email: moutome1@umbc.edu

Hello, Retrievers!

I hope you had a wonderful summer! We are very excited to see you on campus in just a few short weeks. Whether you are a new or returning student, there are resources and programs available to help you build connections and maintain a healthy lifestyle while on campus.

Find your community. There are many ways to meet other students, try something new, and get involved at UMBC. Welcome, Retrievers is a UMBC tradition for new and returning students, so mark your calendar for Friday, August 21, through Sunday, August 23! There’s something for everyone, including the Taste of UMBC, featuring music, performances, and food, and First Night, with free swag, food, bingo with prizes, and plenty of other activities in The Commons and under the Erickson Field tent. Be sure to check the events calendar now and throughout the year for the latest on what’s happening around campus.

Stay healthy! From acupuncture in Retriever Integrated Health to taking an exercise class in the Retriever Activities Center, you will find plenty of ways to stay healthy throughout the year. If at any point during the semester you are struggling socially or emotionally, Retriever Integrated Health offers counseling services at no cost, and Retriever Support Services provides resources for emotional support and basic needs. There are also a number of places across campus that support your spiritual well-being including the Gathering Space and a host of locations for prayer and meditation. You can find out more information at Retriever Fest on Friday, August 21.

Over the next few weeks, you will hear about student employment opportunities and additional resources that will support your success and connect you to ways to get involved on campus so please be on the lookout.

I’m looking forward to seeing you during Welcome, Retrievers events, at an athletic event, or just walking around in between classes. It’s going to be a great year! Go Dawgs!

Sincerely,

Renique T. Kersh
Vice President for Student Affairs

Ph.D. candidate Ridwan Islam Sifat has published a new article in the journal NEW SOLUTIONS: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy. In the article, Sifat examines the impact of AI integration into academia on faculty well-being.

Read the article here.